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Brazil’s climate chief, the minister, has urged every country to demonstrate the bravery needed to confront the imperative of a worldwide transition away from fossil fuels, describing the creation of a detailed plan as an “ethical” response to the global warming emergency.

She emphasized, however, that participation in this process would be optional and “independently decided” for willing nations.

The topic stands as one of the most debated subjects at the UN climate summit in the host country, with countries divided over whether and in what way such a strategy can be addressed. Hosting the event, Brazil has adopted a balanced stance on what can be included on the formal agenda.

Silva expressed support for the possibility of a plan, though not explicitly committing Brazil to it. The minister remarked: “In times we have a terrain that is very challenging, it is helpful that we have a map. But the map does not force us to proceed, or to advance.”

Speaking further, the minister added: “The roadmap is an response to our scientific understanding [of the climate emergency]. It is an ethical answer.”

Scores of countries gathered in the host city for the global climate conference, which is entering its second week, are seeking to establish how a global phaseout of oil, gas, and coal could work. These nations hope to advance a historic resolution made two years ago at a previous UN summit to “transition away from fossil fuels.”

The pledge lacked a schedule or details on how it could be achieved, and even though it was passed unanimously, some nations have later tried to back away from the pledge. Attempts last year to elaborate on its practical implications were blocked by resistance from oil-dependent nations at COP29.

Consequently, there was no reference of the transition away from carbon fuels in the final agreement of COP29.

For these reasons, Brazil has been wary of demands by some nations to place the transition on the schedule for the current summit. But Silva has strived behind the scenes to make sure the topic could be talked about at the conference apart from the official agenda.

The minister convinced the nation's president, and he made public reference three times to the need to “shift from reliance on fossil fuels” at the summit of world leaders that preceded COP30, and at the opening of the event.

“The issue is a matter that we know at a certain time had to be raised, because it is the sole way to face the issue from the root,” the minister explained. “We recognise that it is not easy, and we cannot offer false hopes. Bringing up the subject is courageous, and I wish [to see] this courage from everyone, from producing nations and consumers.”

Brazil had not initiated the push for a transition, the minister said, because that had been initiated at COP28. Rather, it was enabling the talks to take place in line with what certain nations desired. “We understand these subjects are sensitive. We will provide the chance to discuss it,” the minister added.

Time is insufficient at COP30 to create a detailed plan, a process Silva called could take a number of years because numerous nations confronted complex issues around dependence on carbon-based energy, or aimed to use the revenue from selling oil and gas to fund their economic growth.

“The country raises the subject, because Brazil is both a producer and user,” she noted. “But the nation is unique, because Brazil, if it chooses to, does not have to rely on fossil fuels. We have to understand that there are some that depend on fossil fuels in their economic systems and lack easy solutions, and some where oil and gas are the basis of their economic structure.

“To be fair is to be just to all, but the fundamental, basic justice is to avoid being unjust to the planet, because it is our home.”

Should the proposal receives enough backing, COP30 could establish a platform in which the work of creating a roadmap to the phaseout could start.

This process would involve dialogue with all signatory countries to the UN framework convention on climate change and criteria for how the process would unfold, Silva explained. “Once we have standards, a management framework can be developed; after we have a plan, and establish protections to be able to establish confidence in the process, I believe that with these elements we can transform positive concepts into steps that are clearer, and more tangible.”

There is no guarantee that a proposal to start drawing up a roadmap would be accepted at COP30, even if it does not require the formal consent of the conference, which operates by consensus and can be disrupted by special interests. Climate experts have suggested they believe there could be support for such a proposal from about sixty nations, but there are believed to be at least forty against. A total of 195 nations participating at the talks.

“Despite being the primary source of climate change, fossil fuels are about the most divisive subject there is within the UN negotiations, so to see a chunky group of nations openly supporting a route to achieving global transition is in itself highly significant.”

“In simple terms, there’s no path to a planet where warming stays below 1.5 degrees in which countries cannot to discuss fossil fuel phaseout.”

“We require this wording for actual in this discussion. It’s highly illogical that we discuss all topics but then when the main issue are the actual problem.”

Negotiations continued on the weekend on four outstanding issues that have still not been incorporated into the formal agenda: commerce, transparency, finance and how to address the shortfall between the emissions cuts nations have planned and those required to hold to the 1.5-degree warming target.

The COP30 chair promised a “document” that would cover these issues, after consultations – which have been going on since the start of the week – were inconclusive. The official urged nations to adopt the “mutirão” spirit, referring to one of collaboration and constructive discussion.

Work on additional key issues – such as adjustment to the effects of the climate emergency, the fair shift for those impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy and how to build institutional capacity in less developed nations – proceeded productively, the presidency said.

Brazil’s lead representative said the technical part of the summit proceedings was nearing the end, and the high-level stage – when government leaders who have the authority to alter their countries’ stances join – was starting.